Chapter Three

So….I realized that I named this fic on a whim and I'm not sure I like it so it might change at some point. IDK though…

Also, I never know what to say in author notes….i mean I could gush over my favorite characters? But I feel like that will happen a lot more later when I get to the actual romantic relationship parts as the beginning is a lot more adventure.

This is my first fic after all…hang in there guys *sweatdrop*
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It had been the blonde in the purple that realized Avery was there in the brush watching. She turned and faced the exact spot where Avery had been sitting the entire battle; but she was no longer distracted by the danger of an enemy and could clearly feel the presence that Avery was still suppressing. She must be some kind of sensory type of ninja.

Panic flooded through Avery, making her blood boil as she considered her options. She really didn't have many; stay here and get caught, or run. Those were her options. After a second of thought, she came to the conclusion that running sounded like the better option. She immediately stood and took off running away from the large group of ninja. Of course they were pursuing her and she knew that it was going to take a lot to get away from this one.

She kept pushing herself forward, flying through the trees when suddenly she came to an abrupt halt. She couldn't move anything, not her head, not her hands, she could barely blink. She managed to glance down out of her peripheral vision and realized that the man she had been so incredibly drawn to had trapped her in his shadow, causing her to have to mimic his moves.

His first mistake was having her face him; Avery knew all she needed was her eyes to get out of this. She waited until he had to listen to his leaders for instruction before she squinted her eyes slightly and sent Shikamaru flying away from his stance and breaking his shadows hold on her. She ran immediately, trying to get as far away from getting caught in another shadow as possible.

"Wood style: wood dome jutsu!"

Without any further warning, wood started sprouting up from the ground in a dome over Avery's body. She quickly blew up the farther side from where the ninja were and darted through the opening she made in the brunette man's wooden prison.

"Damn, she's fast."

"She may be fast, but she won't get away from Kakashi."

Before Avery even had time to wonder why she wouldn't get away from Kakashi, whatever that was, the silver haired man appeared in front of her. Avery prepared to fight him but he attacked and she jumped back; right into the shadow user again. Damn it, I won't get away from him a second time.

Shikamaru didn't make her face him this time, knowing he would just get thrown again. Especially since he was not sure how she did it in the first place, he wasn't willing to give her any chance to do it again. Everyone surrounded around the new intruder, including the giant bird Sai had drawn to transport Kakuzu back to the Hidden Leaf.

"Who are you?" Yamato asked their captive.

She said nothing, just standing there, still as a statue in Shikamaru's shadow. When she didn't respond, the medical ninja side of Sakura spoke up, "are you alright? You're not hurt are you?"

"No response," Sai commented. "Maybe she doesn't know how to speak."

"I doubt that Sai."

Avery rolled her eyes at their conversation. She was not about to out herself before she was ready.

"So what do we do?" Shikamaru asked. He could feel his grip slipping after already having used so much chakra in the fight.

"I guess we take her back to the leaf village with us," Yamato said approaching her cautiously.

The leaf village… Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro… the leaf village was where I was supposed to be going.

"Couldn't we just let her go? I mean she hasn't actually done anything to us," Naruto said, his exhaustion showing in his voice. He was holding his right arm close to his side, it was probably injured.

"No, technically she hasn't done anything. But with the Akatsuki wandering around, I am not really willing to just let her go. She could be a spy for them," Kakashi said.

They were all silent then as they contemplated their options. Avery thought now might be the time to speak up if she wanted to see if she could clear herself and find the hidden leaf village.

"Did you say the hidden leaf?"

Everyone stared at her, like she had six heads or something. Finally the blonde spoke up.

"Yes, that's where we are all from," He said pointing at his forehead with his thumb. That was when it occurred to Avery she had not taken a good look at their headbands since she was so close to them now. Their headbands all had a small, spiral leaf symbol on them.

"That is actually where I was heading in my travels," Avery admitted. "Or I was trying to anyway."

"You were 'trying?'"

"I…uh kinda got a little lost," Avery admitted. "I am pretty sure I left the map my friend gave me at the hot spring in that town I was just in."

"Well," The silver haired man spoke, "we are about to head back if you'd like to come along."

Avery looked around at everyone's faces. She realized as she looked at Shikamaru that he wasn't holding her anymore. It was when she looked him in the eye that she realized the question that was lingering on her tongue. "Is your captain…did he survive?" She asked.

Shock crossed is face for an instant before his expression relaxed as he searched her face. "Yes, thanks to you. I knew I recognized you."

"Good."

"Well," the silver haired man said, breaking the connection between the two. "I guess we should all introduce ourselves. You can come back to the village with us and speak with our Hokage. I am Kakashi."

"Yamato." The brunette with the metal face plate.

"Sai." The pale boy with the exposed midriff.

"Sakura." The pink haired girl.

"Naruto." The interesting blonde boy.

"Ino." The blonde woman in the purple.

"Choji." The large boy with the long light brown hair.

"Shikamaru." The shadow boy, she already knew that one from listening earlier.

With a nod, Avery smiled at them, "My name is Avery."

Kakashi nodded. He seemed gentler now; the crinkle in the corners of his eyes proof of the smile his mask was hiding. "Alright, Avery, let's go."

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Since the group wasn't in any rush to get back to the village, they were able to walk at a decent pace rather than having to run. Avery was glad to not have to run since she wasn't entirely sure she'd be able to keep up with them. She knew at some point she would probably have to try; but maybe she'd practice a bit first.

It wasn't long before she could see a large wall, with a gate. Just inside the gate, she could see a lovely village with beautifully structured buildings and many people. She stepped closer to Shikamaru, "is that it?"

"Yes, that's the Village Hidden in the Leaves. Or it's also known as Konohagakure."

This village was even cuter than Suna; though Avery did miss it a little. The buildings were smaller than the sand buildings and made up of a different material. There was more color and everything was really open with trees between buildings. Everything was so green and healthy looking. Children ran around playing and people trying to do their errands. Cheerful, that was the word; the village had an extremely cheerful feeling to it.

It seemed like this village had a lot more people than Suna, and at first it made an uneasy feeling go through Avery. It wasn't until Shikamaru touched her shoulder that she realized she wasn't paying attention to where the group was going. "This way," Shikamaru said with a smile.

She returned the smile and walked with the group toward a large red building with a red circle at the top on the front with a symbol in it that Avery didn't recognize. There were metal pillars on top that curved in toward the middle slightly. Directly behind that there was a giant cliff with great stone faces carved into it. There were five, four men and one woman.

"Where are we going?" Avery asked.

"The Hokage's office, she's the leader of the village. She works along with the Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire and the village elders to keep the village safe. She is also the one that accepts and assigns our missions," Shikamaru explained. "Since we just got back from a mission, we have to check in with her and give her our report."

"She also needs to know of our new visitor," Yamato said softly over his shoulder. He seemed very soft spoken, and she got the feeling that he didn't trust her quite yet.

This woman must be leaf's version of what Gaara is. I wonder if she's older. Avery thought as they stepped inside the building and began up the stairs to the third floor of the building. The group stopped in front of a door, likely to the Hokage's office, and Kakashi rapped three short knocks.

"Come in."

The group stepped into a large, circular office and they all spread out so she could see them all. The Hokage was the only person in the room; sitting behind a desk in a large chair. She had long blonde hair she kept in loose pigtails down her back and long bangs hanging at each side of her face. Her skin was fair and pale with a small purple diamond shape in the center of her forehead. She had butterscotch brown eyes that looked rather intense and even though she seemed to look fairly young, Avery got the feeling she was older than she appeared. She wore a grey open shirt with a dark grey sash tying it closed just under her enormous breasts. Avery couldn't see past that but she did see a green jacket hanging on her chair.

"Well?" she asked simply of her ninja.

"Both Akatsuki members have been eliminated," Yamato reported formally.

"One was eliminated using Naruto's new jutsu. We brought his body back to be analyzed. Sai took it to the research division," Kakashi said.

It was at that moment Avery realized Sai was missing. It must have been his jutsu that created the massive odd looking bird that carried the enemy's body back.

"Very good, you have all done well. You all need to take the next two days off and rest. Any of you with injuries report to the hospital at once," she said sternly. "Naruto, that arm looks pretty rough, I want it examined immediately."

"Nah, don't worry about me grandma Tsunade. I'm totally-"

"You idiot! Your arm is broken in three places you're not fine!" Sakura was shouting after pounding Naruto on the head. "Don't worry Lady Tsunade! I'll make sure he gets there!"

So her name is Tsunade.

"Who's the new girl?" Tsunade asked.

Everyone turned to look at Avery. She froze for a second as everyone stared at her before she stepped forward and bowed her head. "My name is Avery Moran."

"Avery?" Tsunade asked and looked like she was thinking about something far away in her mind. "Shizune! Come here!"

At Tsunade's command, a young, thin brunette woman walked in the door. She was a little shorter than Avery and looked about Kakashi's age. She wore a black kimono with a white lining and a purple sash. She had on black strappy sandals and no obvious sign of any shorts or fighting wear. She had large brown eyes and a soft expression on her face. "Yes m'lady?" she said coming in. She was also carrying a small pig wearing a pearl necklace and a dark red jacket.

"What was the name in that letter from the sand? The one Lord Kazekage sent about a traveler from another world."

"Ah, I believe it was Avery?" She said. "Why?"

"Because she's here."

Avery could feel everyone in the room staring at her at this point. She kept her eyes on Tsunade and smiled. "I did come from there. Gaara must have sent word that I would be looking for the leaf. That was where they suggested I go. Gaara and his siblings that is," She explained.

"Right, welcome to the Leaf Village, Avery," Tsunade stood up as she spoke. "We are happy to have you, as Lord Gaara said some pretty wonderful things about you in his letter. I will need someone to show Avery around. And we need someone to allow her to stay with them until we can finish getting that apartment set up for her."

"I can ask my mom, I am sure she won't mind," Sakura said

"Shikamaru, do you mind showing her around?" Tsunade asked.

"I guess not," He said. "It's just such a drag, but I already do it for all the other visitors."

"Alright then, you're all dismissed," Tsunade said, effectively ignoring her laziest ninja.

"Yes ma'am!"

Everyone filed out of the office and the door shut behind them. Avery could hear Shizune and Tsunade speaking quietly but as she was supposed to be following Shikamaru, she wasn't focused on what they were saying. They all walked out of the building together before splitting off their separate ways.

Sakura and Naruto made off toward the hospital, arguing the entire way. Kakashi and Yamato went off another way, talking quietly. Avery was distracted by them momentarily, knowing Yamato had not trusted her before. She sensed his feelings now, he was more relaxed now but still wasn't totally trusting.

"Hey Avery, are you coming?" The voice broke Avery's concentration on Yamato. She snapped back to reality and looked at Ino, who had apparently been talking to her and Shikamaru.

"I'm sorry, what were you saying?" Avery said looking apologetic.

"We'll meet you there, Ino," Shikamaru said. "I want to show her something first."

"Alright," Ino said with a smile. "Hurry though or Choji will eat everything before you can get there."

"No doubt, we'll be there soon."

With that, Ino and Choji went off in another direction together, chatting happily. Avery turned to Shikamaru, "You wanted to show me something?"

"Yeah, more like…there's someone I think you need to meet."

They walked together in the same direction Sakura and Naruto had gone in. Avery walked quietly next to Shikamaru, but wondered about who he wanted her to meet. Why? Who could she possibly need to meet?

They were approaching the hospital door when Shikamaru turned to see someone also coming up to enter the hospital. The woman had dark brunette hair and strange red eyes with an extra ring in them; like she had two irises. Shikamaru opened the door for the woman with a smile and a nod. "Kurenai-Sensei," He said smiling at her. She was wearing a simple, dark red dress and black sandals. She looked happy, and when she saw Shikamaru, her eyes beamed.

"Shikamaru, I thought you were away on a mission," She said. Her voice was low and sounded unique.

"We finished," He said simply. "We actually just returned."

Kurenai gasped "You mean?"

"Yes, they're gone."

Tears formed in Kurenai's strange eyes, she smiled wider before she reached her arms out to hug Shikamaru. "Asuma will be so proud of you guys."

"We are actually headed there to see him now," Shikamaru said returning the hug briefly. He stepped back then and looked at Avery. Just as he decided should probably introduce them though, Kurenai spoke.

"You…"

Shikamaru looked at Kurenai. Tears were spilling over her cheeks freely. "Asuma told me. You; there's no doubt you are who he described."

"Yes, this is Avery. And I can say with one hundred percent certainty, she is the reason Asuma is alive."

Kurenai immediately stepped forward and hugged her. Avery froze, not really used to being hugged by complete strangers. The woman only lingered a moment before she backed away and looked to Shikamaru again, "I have an appointment, then I'll be along."

After a nod, Shikamaru took Avery by the arm and steered her down a hallway into the hospital. They turned a couple corners and walked down another hallway. At the end of the last hallway, Shikamaru turned into a room and knocked on the door as he came in.

"Asuma-Sensei? You awake?"

"Shikamaru? I thought you were away on a mission."

The man lying in the hospital bed was the same man Avery saved the other day. He was still fairly beat up and had some pretty serious injuries. Though, with the healing Avery had done and the treatments here he looked like he would be alright. He did have a long road for recovery though.

Shikamaru walked to the foot of the man's bed so he wouldn't have to turn to see him. "We beat them," He said with a smile. He tossed something to Asuma that landed in his lap. Asuma picked it up and opened it. It was a lighter. He clicked it once and it lit up.

"I didn't even know this was gone. They won't let me smoke in here," Asuma said chuckling weakly. He set the lighter down on his bedside table and relaxed. His face was beaming with pride in his student. "Well done."

"I have someone for you to meet," Shikamaru said. He gestured for Avery to come closer to the bed so Asuma could see her easier. "This is Avery. She's the one that saved you."

Avery walked forward and stopped next to Asuma's bedside. She looked at Shikamaru nervously before turning to face Asuma. Shikamaru was the only one Avery felt totally comfortable around; though she wasn't sure why that was. Whatever the reason, she was definitely glad he was there to give her the courage to speak to the man she saved.

"Hello. I hope you're feeling better…Asuma is it?"

"Yes," He nodded. "I am feeling better thanks to you. I have wanted to thank you. You are the reason I am still alive." He spoke with a husky deep voice, weakened by his condition. He held out his hand to her, and she took it almost on instinct. "You must be an impressive shinobi."

"Actually, I am not a shinobi, sir."

"What? You're not?"

Avery shook her head, "I'm a person with special abilities. My clan referred to us as witches."

"Ah," He said, looking over Avery more carefully now. "I've heard tales of your kind. There hasn't ever been a history of them existing around here. You're of another world."

"You know about her, Asuma?" Shikamaru's shock rang clear in his voice.

"Yeah, I've heard the legends and read the stones," He said examining her. "But I never dreamed I would ever meet one." He picked up her right hand and looked at the palm. His surprise told Avery what he was looking for.

"It only shows up when someone in my clan is in danger. Which means I'll probably never see that symbol on my hand again."

"What?"

"It's why I left," She explained looking at her hand. The symbol was fading steadily, but Avery was actually a little surprised it wasn't completely gone. Tears stung her eyes as she looked at it, threatening to spill out onto her cheeks. "The man that claimed he loved me, he was my best friend. He was from an ally clan, a friend of my parents. He slaughtered my entire family. They betrayed us, so using my last bit of energy, I managed to take my family's namesake book and run."

Asuma let go of her hand, his eyes filled with sadness for her. "I see," he looked away for a moment before he met her gaze. "I'm very sorry for your loss; though I'll be extremely interested to see your abilities in the future."

"Not anytime soon, you need to heal," Shikamaru said. "You need to be around for that baby."

"Heh, yeah I'm actually really excited about that bit of news," Asuma said with a huge smile.

"As you should be," Shikamaru said.

"Yes, I am as well," Kurenai said as she stepped into the room. She set a basket down on the table next to his bed and took the towel off the top to reveal muffins and scones.

"Kurenai you're the best," Asuma said taking a muffin.

"We'll give you guys your privacy," Shikamaru said walking toward the door. "We are supposed to be meeting Ino and Choji for a post mission meal. Knowing Choji if we wait too long there won't be any left."

"Might be too late already," Asuma laughed.

"True, we'll see you guys."

They left the hospital together, and began walking in the direction of the restaurant they were meeting Choji and Ino at. Avery glanced at him as they walked; he walked with his hands in his pocket and a bored expression on his face. He caught her watching him and chuckled, "After we eat lunch I'll show you around a bit."

"Sounds good."

Avery looked at the restaurant when they got to it. It was a barbeque restaurant; and it seemed like they came here a lot. The woman at the front greeted Shikamaru by name with a warm smile.

"They're at the usual table," She said smiling. Her slightly plump cheeks had small dimples and her eyes closed with the intensity of her smile. "Hopefully Asuma-Sensei will not be in the hospital too long and will be able to join you guys again soon."

Shikamaru smiled and dipped his head toward her, thanking her for her kind words on his sensei's behalf. He led Avery through the restaurant to a booth toward the back where Choji and Ino were sitting with a table full of raw meats and rice.

"There you are! You're just in time, the food just got here!"

Avery had never seen this kind of restaurant. At each table was a little grill that was heated up for you to cook the meat on. This is kinda awesome. She took a plate of meat and set it on the grill and waited. She turned it over when she felt it had been long enough for the first side, and realized why everyone always joked about Choji and food. Though she wasn't sure they had actually been joking.

He pounded the table impatiently and grumbled. "Choji chill, she's the newbie she gets to go first," Ino said.

She took the meat from the grill using the chopsticks she had just broken apart. She was counting her blessings she taught herself to use chopsticks a long time ago. Her love of Chinese food was paying off.

"Seems like you're settling in nicely already," Ino said cheerfully.

"Well, I'm really observant, so I can usually figure out what I should be doing based on the actions of those around me," She said with a smile.

"Does that help you in battle? To be so observant?" Choji asked as he started eating his meat. Avery wasn't sure it was even all the way cooked.

"I'd like to think it does, it allows me to see all aspects of my opponents' abilities and fighting style," She explained between bites.

Shikamaru smirked a bit, "sounds pretty useful."

Ino shushed him, "come on! This is our chance to get to know her. You two are not going to just sit here and talk about fighting styles." Ino turned back to Avery with a smile, "tell us about where you came from. Did you come alone? How old are you?"

"You sure ask a lot of questions," Avery said with a laugh.

"I'm just curious."

"She means nosy," Shikamaru's bored tone told Avery this was common Ino behavior.

"Hush!"

"Well, I'm 19 years old, I came here alone, and my favorite color is purple."

"I didn't ask that," Ino said.

"Oh you're paying attention!" Avery joked. "Kidding, I would just rather not talk about where I came from or why I came. I just decided to change the question."

"Oh okay," Ino said suspiciously.

Avery didn't feel bad about dismissing the question. She had just laid everything out to Asuma and it was a little fresh. It was all still very new and she even still had the crest etched on her hand to prove it. She had told a Gaara, Temari and Kankuro of what happened as well as Asuma and Shikamaru. She really needed to not think about it for a little while. That emotional pain would be hard enough to break through without having to retell it a million times.

No one seemed to mind the avoidance of Ino's question, but it also stopped her flow of them. They finished eating talking about what gender the baby Kurenai was carrying was going to be. Ino thought it was a boy, Choji agreed, but Shikamaru was determined it would be a girl. When they were finished eating, the three teammates split the bill, paying for Avery, and went outside.

Choji and Ino went home shortly after they all left the restaurant and Shikamaru walked slowly down the road with Avery next to him. He seemed to not be in the tour guide kind of mood and eventually he turned to Avery. "So you've got two choices. You could decide to be rather troublesome and make me show you around tonight. Or we could just skip the tour until tomorrow and go to my house for a bit," Shikamaru said as he stretched lazily.

"Tour tomorrow, definitely," Avery chuckled. This boy was very lazy. "I've been travelling almost a little over a week. Relaxing sounds like a great use of my night."

"Okay, right this way then."

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